Get Social

Feeling lonely? A new online survey by Cigna aims to address a national epidemic

Hartford Courant (CT)

Dec. 06--Cigna, the Bloomfield-based insurance giant, wants to know if you feel lonely.

A new free online questionnaire, a shorter version of a well-known version compiled by UCLA, asks a series of questions and then offers tips and suggestions to increase social connections.

Earlier this year, Cigna said its survey of 20,000 adults that found that loneliness had reached "epidemic levels," with nearly 50 percent of Americans considering themselves lonely. Survey results also suggested that "Generation Z," which includes young people age 18 to 22, appears to be "the loneliest generation."

The survey also found that just half of Americans say they have meaningful in-person social interactions, such as an extended conversation.

Cigna CEO David Cordiani said there is a clear link between mental and physical health. As part of this initiative, Cigna is encouraging people to talk with their physician or health care provider about how they are feeling.

"Our findings have prompted people from all walks of life to recognize the growing epidemic of social isolation and commit to addressing loneliness. There is increasing momentum to address this issue in our workplaces and communities," Cordani said in a press release. "We need to go beyond addressing symptoms in silos. To help people achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, we must treat the mind and body as one."

Cigna officials say that loneliness is not a medical condition and the new tool should be used to better understand loneliness.